Tire-protector.



A. W. NEEWF.

` .TIRE PROTECTOR.

A APP v ION FIEED FEB. 25.1916. l 1,211,214. A Patented Jan.2,1917.

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TIRE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 19d?.

Application filed February 25, 1916.V Serial No. 80,390.

To all/'whom t may concer-n;

Be it known that AMBRosE W. NEFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Powell, in the county of Delaware and State of Ohio, have invented a new and llmproved Tire-Protec^tor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tire .protector arranged to prolong the life of the tire, to prevent punctures and blow-outs, to insure the desired cushioning eiect with comparatively little air pressure in the tire, 'to reduce the tendency to skid to a minimum, and -to allow the use of a broad tread on a tire of small diameter.

1n order to accomplish the desired result, use is made vof a tread, preferably of rubber or other suitable elastic material, and fitting is repr ented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciilcation, 1n which' similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an enlarged cross section of the tire protector as applied, the view showing a portion of a tire. Fig. Z is a reduced side elevation of a tire provided with the protector, a portion of one of the protecting plates being shown broken out; VFig. 3 is a. sectional perspective view of a portion of the tread; and Fig. 4f. is a sectional perspective view of a portion of one of the protecting plates; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one end of one of the iiexible connections.

Unto the peripheral face of an inflatable tire tube 10 fits a tread 11, preferably made of rubber or other similar elastic material. The tread 11 is provided with integral sides 12 forming at their outer ends ledges 13, as plainly indicated inthe drawings. The peripheral face of the tread 11 is provided with transversely extending grooves 14 terminatng at the ledges 13, and in the said grooves are arranged :flexible connections 15, preferably in the form of chains, terminating at their ends in Shanks 16 provided with buttons 17. The sides 12 of the tread 11 are overlai with ri-ng-shaped protecting plates 18, preferably made of metal, and extending inward beyond the yinner edges 12'to overlie the sides of the tire tube 10, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer or peripheral 'edges of the protecting plates 18 terminate in inwardly extending return bent flanges 19'seatcd on the ledges 18 and provided with notches 20 engaged by the buttons 1'? `of the flexible connections 15 to securely hold the ring-shaped protecting plates 18 in position on the sides 12 of the tread 11, the inner edges of the plates extending on the sides of the tire'. tube 10 to near the' middle thereof.

It will be noticed that ,the'flexible con nections 15 are suilic'iently deep in the grooves 14 to be protected against wear.

It will also be noticed that by the arrangement -described the plates 18 protect the sides 12 of the tread 11 as well as the sides of the tire tube 10, and hence the latter is not liable to be punctured and blow-outs are prevented.

It will further be noticed that the tire tread 11 with its'protecting plates 18 does not prevent the cushioning of the tire tube 10, and owing to the broad face of the tread 11 skidding is prevented. y

It will also be noticed that a broad tread may be used on a comparatively small sized tire tube 10. The ledge 18 provides suliicient space for accommodating the flange 19 and the button connection between the flange and the flexible connection 15, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A tire protector, comprising a tread. adapted to lit the peripheral face cfa-tire and provided at the sides'wyith ledges, the peripheral faceof the tread being provided with transverse grooves leading to the said ledges, flexible connections extending inthe- 'said grooves and ringshaped protecting detaeliably connected With the ends of the said flexible connections.

2. A tire protector, comprising. u, tread I adapted to lit the peripheral face of a tire and provided :it the sides with ledges, the peripheral face of the tread being flattened and provided with transverse grooves leading to the said ledges, flexible connections extending in the said grooves and terminat-v ing at the said ledges, ring-shaped protecting plates overlying the sides of the said tread and extending inward onto the sides s Lei-1,2m

of the tire, the outer edges of the said pltes having inward return bent flanges sea-ted on the said ledges, and means for connecting L, 

